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The One Sleep Hack Oprah Winfrey's Sleep Doctor Wants You to Know

Along with a custom bathtub and island compound in Oregon, you can add sleep doctor to the list of extravagant things Oprah Winfrey has. Though it's a luxury to most, it's only fitting that the wildly successful TV personality, actress, and activist has a professional to help her get the restorative sleep she certainly needs.

Los Angeles–based Michael Breus, PhD, is known as the world's leading sleep doctor. He's a clinical psychologist, a board-certified sleep specialist, and has made a name for himself as sleep doctor to the stars. He works with everyone from musicians to actors, tackling sleep issues like apnoea, narcolepsy, and insomnia.

Breus recently revealed his number one hack for better sleep to Australian lifestyle website Whimn, and it's a game-changer. He simply recommends waking up at the same time every morning—even on the weekends. “Sure, I know we all long for that weekend sleep-in, but to be honest, it can make you take on a jetlag feel," he explains.

It's more important to be consistent about your wake-up time than your bedtime, according to Breus. This is because the morning sunlight resets your circadian clock, biological rhythms that can influence sleep cycles, hormones, eating habits, and other bodily functions.

While waking up at the same time every day is Breus's top sleep hack, he also recommends sleeping on a firm mattress, utilising the "night shift" feature on your phone if it's available, and ignoring the eight-hours-a-night rule. "Most people don't need it," he says. "I sleep six and a half hours a night, and I'm the sleep doctor."

The thought of giving up sleeping in on the weekends is daunting, but according to Breus, it's worth it in the long run. Follow his advice and try setting your alarm for Saturday and Sunday mornings to see how a consistent wake-up schedule affects you.